binan steel, saturday explosion, media fail

09 July 2013

it’s three days later and (correct me if i’m wrong) nary a news report, whether on mainstream or social media, on the huge explosion that rocked binan, laguna last saturday night. learned about it lang on facebook, from the sunday morning status of my niece ainee amador-mapili who lives in filinvest, binan. she and husband art were on their way home along dona justina right beside the wall of binan steel when hell broke loose.

Leilani Marie Amador-Mapili : It was really scary. A sudden blast of hot air and then falling debris in flames! My car window was open and I thought I was going to get burned. Biñan Steel is our neighbor. It is located within a residential area but was re-classified into an industrial area by the then Biñan municipal govt when this was pointed out by concerned homeowners. According to an engineer friend who also lives in the area, a furnace may have exploded. Mayor Lenlen Alonte-Naguiat, Vice Mayor Dimaguila, city councilors: The blast could’ve been stronger, it could’ve been fatal (or is it? We heard sirens in the distance). What are you waiting for?

more from ainee and the comment threads:

…mukhang malakas nga kasi may nadinig kami kakaibang pumutok kahapon,, nasa bandang bicutan kami.. malaki yung tunog kasi.. hindi transformer ng meralco ang tunog … Explosion was so strong it ripped the roof of Binan Steel when I passed by the highway this 7:30 am. Columns of twisted sheet metal on the plant’s wall along Dona Justina st … nabingi nga yung right ear ko kasi nasa side ko yung explosion … aside from previous explosions, acrid smell was emanating from the steel mill, and according to homeowners living near the site, fine gray powder is often found on their cars and garden. The Sanggunian said they will look into the classification. And they did, they changed it!! Galing ‘no! … super lakas na as in parang World War 3 was declared!!! … Yeah!! Everyone in the village was jolted!! The blast was horrifyingly strong!!!…and the powers that be in Binan surely felt the strong blast as well….strong enough for them to investigate and act on the Binan Steel long pending issue … Don and i did the same (googled) and we were surprised na wala talagang news! Dumating daw ang gma7 and abs-cbn, don’t know kung totoo. … not sure why it’s not in the news. sobrang lakas ng kapit ng BS kung nagawa nila ng news blackout. Nothin on tv, radio … Mga anak ko nga just finished watching Prometheus nung nangyari yung blast, kala nila merong naglanding na aliens sa bubong, hahaha!

monday update:

The firetrucks and police weren’t allowed to enter the BS compound on the night of the blast. There were reported casualties and the police will try to find out where they were brought. … according to the police, kung bomb explosion daw, they can force their way in. But still, they have to make a report na ayaw sila papasukin. E yung firetruck, bakit d nila pinapasok? … somethin is cookin here….smells like cover up…Again!

tuesday update:

Hi Ainee! Just got this message from Mayora….denr issued an interim cease order to BS to stop operation…according to cenro mas titibay daw order ng local govt for the order to stop operation…good morning…